'Olden-days' Christmas at Fort Hunter

The holidays are almost upon us, and because it's easy to get swept up in the materialism of the season, you might want to take a break from shopping to reflect upon a simpler time.

Tour guides at the Fort Hunter Mansion in Harrisburg are ready to welcome visitors and transport them into an era when life wasn't so hectic. Guests are invited to step in from the cold and take a leisurely stroll through the cozy, yet commodious mansion rooms, which are beautifully decorated for the holidays, courtesy of the Harrisburg Garden Club.

Docents will take patrons on a journey back in time when Fort Hunter was established. Originally named "Hunter's Mill," the area was named after Robert Hunter, a pioneer who settled there, and the gristmills and sawmills that were an important part of the little village.

The small settlement, like others along the Susquehanna River, was in jeopardy during the French and Indian War, so the British built a series of forts from Harrisburg to Sunbury to protect the area.

Fort Hunter served as one of those forts. Built in 1756 in a bend along the river, the sturdy structure was a supply depot and alarm station. After the war, the fort fell into disrepair until Archibald McAllister bought the land and turned it into a self-sufficient, thriving frontier village.

Prominent Harrisburg businessman Daniel Dick Boas later bought the property in 1870. It stayed in the Boas family for years, until a niece created a foundation to preserve its history.

Today Dauphin County owns the land, and each year more activities are added to promote its historical significance.

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For the Christmas season, the 20-room mansion is decorated elegantly, yet simply, in the manner of owners long ago.

"The Christmas tree is decorated with handmade ornaments and hand-blown glass balls, owned only by the wealthy. Most folks used handmade items like paper chains, berries, and strings of popcorn to decorate their trees. Tree lights were candles, only lit once or twice a year due to the fire hazard," said Molly Trost, mansion manager.

Those who visit this weekend may want to take a short walk to the tavern house after the mansion tour to behold the annual Festival of Trees, sponsored by the Harrisburg Area Civic Garden Center and open Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 16. If you're feeling lucky, you can buy a raffle ticket. Winners will be permitted to take home a tree of their choice.

Julia Hair, park manager, promises a fun time for children as well.

"When we give a tour of the mansion, we talk about how families lived hundreds of years ago and how they celebrated the holidays," she said adding that tour guides often tailor their talks to the ages of the visitors. "We also talk about gift giving. Adults might get a piece of candy, a homemade scarf, or a pair of socks and the kids might get a toy - one item was more standard," she said.

Children who visit on weekends before Dec. 23 can enjoy the sights and sounds of the extensive toy train exhibit set up in the nearby Centennial Barn, courtesy of the Keystone Model Railroad Historical Society.

Last year, some 1,000 visitors took advantage of the events at Fort Hunter, according to Hair, and there's still time to treat the family to a fun, yet educational, holiday experience.

"It makes for a nice little outing without having to spend a lot of money," Hair said.